10 militants killed in Orakzai operation

KALAYA - At least 10 militants were killed and several others wounded when security forces conducted an operation in Orakzai tribal region here on Friday. Official sources said the security forces engaged suspected hideouts of militants in Mamozai area of Upper Orakzai Agency with heavy artillery fire. Jet fighters were also used in the operation, in which two militant hideouts were destroyed. As many as 10 militants were killed and scores of others injured in the action.It may be mentioned here that more than 40 insurgents have been killed during security forces operations in different areas of the tribal agency in recent days. Security officials have claimed in the past that up to 92 per cent of Orakzai has been cleared of insurgents in the ongoing military offensive. Orakzai is one of the seven semi-autonomous tribal regions of the country, where Pakistani Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants are said to have carved out strongholds.